GLORIOUS sunshine greeted the riders for the second race of the Cross-Country Long Track Mountain Bike series at the Val de La Mare, hosted by the Caesarean Cycling Club.
Despite the sunshine, there was a bitterly cold, easterly wind that tested the riders on a course in prime condition – leaving the spectators to delight in some brilliant racing.
After missing the opening round due to Covid, Rhys Hidrio was back to his best, claiming wins in both the overall and Elite classes.
Youth Junior Liam Cadoret led early on, setting a relentless pace for the chasing pack – before being overtaken by eventual winner Hidrio and second-placed rider James Dilks.
Hidrio ran a masterclass, where his lap times varied by no more than twenty seconds for an eight-and-a-half-minute lap over the ten-lap race.
His consistent times were too good for Dilks and Cadoret, who finished five and six minutes behind the winner respectively.
Veteran and Elite Riders Robin Overden and Jay Cracknell had a race-long tussle that saw Overden take the Veteran class win before pulling out at his race distance.
Cracknell was left to chase down fourth-place rider Jason Banks, who made a blistering start.
Lap by lap, Cracknell reeled Banks in before making a decisive break with two laps to go to claim fourth in the Elite class.
Adam Wojtkiewicz and Martin Allix, although racing different classes again, had a great competitive race together.
Wojtkiewicz gapped Allix early on and maintained a comfortable lead with two laps to go when Alix put down the hammer down, but eventually fell short by just seven seconds.
Youth class winner Max Mahoney once again mixed it with some of seniors and was up in overall eighth place before being pulled out at his race distance.
The Caesarean Cycling Club extended thanks to Jersey Water for their continued support in allowing the use of their land.
There is an extended month break before the next race, as several riders take part in the British Cycling National Mountain Bike Point Series.
Hidrio, who has already qualified to represent Jersey in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer – will be looking for a solid result in the events to springboard his attempt to finish in the top three in the national championship, after narrowly missing out by one point on third place last year.
Hidrio will be accompanied by Elite riders James Patterson, Dilks, Cracknell and Jersey Youth riders Charlie and Libby Hart.
